Consortium Starts Library Temp Agency
By Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 1/15/2005
The Central Massachusetts Regional Library System (CMRLS), Shrewsbury, has launched BiblioTemps, a temporary staffing agency for its members—250 public, academic, school, and special libraries in Central Massachusetts. Carolyn Noah, administrator of CMRLS, said she believes BiblioTemps is the first such service to be offered by a consortium. About 75 temps are listed in the BiblioTemps database. The service works with Simmons College and the University of Rhode Island library schools, as well as local discussion lists and job boards.
Start-up funding came from earned income that CMRLS had in reserve; extra funds are generated by placement fees. CMRLS expects to earn $50,000 the first year; after three months of operation, BiblioTemps is already breaking even. Reported Noah, "We've placed an archivist (academic setting), several catalogers, a children's librarian, reference staff, and even a patent researcher (corporate library)."
